business
How Chili’s wants to become more Chili’s again
By CNN Newsource at KVIA ABC-7
· July 17, 2026
· 6 min read
By Jordan Valinsky, CNN
Dallas (CNN) — The future of Chili’s looks a lot like its past.
Red-leather booths, a staple of Chili’s restaurants in the 1990s, are coming back to dining rooms. So are the colorful tile tables, but without the grout that made them difficult to clean. And the walls wi...
Key takeaway Red-leather booths, a staple of Chili’s restaurants in the 1990s, are coming back to dining rooms.
Why this matters in The El Paso
For El Pasoans, the revamped Chili's design may evoke a sense of nostalgia, as the city has been home to numerous Chili's locations over the years. The return of red-leather booths and colorful tile tables could be a welcome change for local customers who have grown accustomed to the chain's familiar atmosphere. As Chili's aims to remodel about 10% of its US restaurants annually, it will be interesting to see how the new design is received in El Paso , where the chain has a established presence. The remodels could potentially attract new customers and boost sales at local Chili's locations, which would be a positive development for the city's economy. With Chili's success in maintaining momentum despite an overall slowdown in dining, the chain's commitment to value and quality service may continue to resonate with El Pasoans, who prioritize affordability and good food.
About this story
Original reporting by KVIA ABC-7 . The El Paso surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit KVIA ABC-7 . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: business ·
Published: July 17, 2026 ·
Source: KVIA ABC-7 ·
Reading time: 6 min
Get more The El Paso stories like this
Free weekly briefing covering business and other local news. Curated by our editorial team. No spam.
By subscribing you agree to our privacy policy . Unsubscribe anytime.
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? By Jordan Valinsky, CNN
Dallas (CNN) — The future of Chili’s looks a lot like its past.
Red-leather booths, a staple of Chili’s restaurants in the 1990s, are coming back to dining rooms. So are the colorful tile tables, but without the grout that made them difficult to clean. And the walls wi...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 17, 2026 by KVIA ABC-7 and curated for The El Paso readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by CNN Newsource at KVIA ABC-7. To learn more about how The El Paso selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more business coverage from The El Paso, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
← Back to all news
More business →
Today’s briefing
Subscribe to newsletter